History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c95.314

v7.c95.314

Once the strict rule of the original doctrine of Karma in the Upaniṣads was loosened by the theory of prāyaścittas, a quick pace was set even in early times for the removal or reduction of the effects of sins in other ways than by means of expiations. Gautama²⁵⁷³ prescribes five means for redeeming (or expiating) blamable acts viz. inaudible recitation of the Veda, austerities, sacrifice in fire, fasting, giving gifts. The history of Dharmasāstra vol. IV deals at some length with *japa* (pp. 44-51), *tapas* (pp. 42-43), *homa* (pp. 43-44), *dāna* (pp 51-52) and fasting (pp. 52-54). Therefore, it is not necessary to say here anything about them. But attention must be drawn to some special and far-reaching modifications of these and other means. Śūdras and members of *pratiloma* castes were not authorized to study the Veda. Hence the authors of medieval works, particularly of Purānas, went so far as to say that remembrance²⁵⁷⁴ of the name of Kṛṣṇa is superior to all expiations and all forms of austerities and that if a man only remembers Nārāyana in the morning, noon, evening, at night and other times, he at once secures the destruction of (the consequences of) sins. Other means were also provided for the removal of sins, one being pilgrimage to holy places. Vide H. of Dh. vol. IV. pp. 55-56 and 552-580. Another was the practice of prāṇāyāma which has been dealt with on p. 42 of H. Dh. vol. IV.